Go Forward with the Gospel. Philippians 1:12. “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel.” There are opportunities to advance the work of the Gospel, and there will be times of discouragement. Lack of interest from most people often makes us think, “What is the use? Why waste time preaching the Gospel if people do not want to hear it?” We may face moments of indecision, a shortage of funds, opposition from family members and friends, difficulties within a Christian assembly, and personal problems that all pressure us to stop furthering the Gospel.
Our behavior and attitude during such times reflect what we truly believe and value. We need to reevaluate the worth of a human being. We should also remember that the responsibility of an assembly and each individual is to our fellow human beings. Every person is of priceless value to God, and we must not see anyone as unworthy of our attention.
Evangelism and our dedication to it require us to think about how to reach all age groups. Senior citizens in care homes and their families need the Gospel. Children from their earliest years and their parents need the Gospel. Our neighbors and coworkers need the Gospel. Our children, grandchildren, and extended families need the Gospel.
In the scriptures of truth, we find examples of how those before us addressed this need. Our Lord Jesus is the ultimate example of personal and public evangelism. The apostle Peter, Philip the evangelist, and the apostle Paul demonstrate how to reach individuals, cities, and the entire world. We also see examples of how local churches like Philippi and Thessalonica reached their communities and regions with this great responsibility.
The facts are clear that Paul’s imprisonment was completely unfair. He was jailed in Israel and shipped as a prisoner to Rome. There, he was in prison for at least two years. What good could possibly come from that? Throughout his time in chains, souls were saved, and believers in various cities were reached and ministered to by the servant of the Lord. The testimony of these events continues to bless people today through the words of the book of Acts and the epistles written during Paul's time in prison. We can also use the difficulties we face to encourage others, even through how we live in hard times. What could have brought bitterness can instead bring blessing.